Ghar ka baaki sannaata ek aisi chuppi mein lipta hua tha jo kisiof-road danger ka aabhas de raha tha. Baahar raat ka waqt apne gehre andhere mein dooba tha, aur andhar, us old-fashioned study room ki bandh deewaron ke beech, hava ek ajeeb si bhaari aur ghutan-bhari garmi mein doobi thi. Yeh sirf mausam ki garmi nahi thi; yeh ek aisa ankahe, kanoon todne wale akarshan ki heat thi jo pichle kayi mahino se dheere-dheere sulag raha tha, aur aaj raat bina kisi warning ke phatne ke kagar par tha.

​Raghav, jo ki unnis saal ka ek lamba, choda-seena aur raw mardana jism wala ladka tha, desk ke paas khada tha. Uski ankhon mein ek aisi dark, aakraman-bhari bhookh thi jo chhupaye nahi chup rahi thi. Uska samna karne ke liye wahan Meera khadi thi—uski young step-mother, jo abhi sirf untees saal ki thi. Uske jism ki banawat kisi khatarnak aur behad aakarshak shikaar ki tarah thi. Uski lambi, syahi-kaale baal khule the, chehra ek koyle jaise gusse aur dabi hui chahat ki aag se laal tha, aur uska poora jism ek aisi lalach bhari chal se chal raha tha jo kisi bhi mard ka dimaag kharab kar de.